“Christian concern for the environment is shaped by the Word of God spoken in creation, the Love of God hanging on a cross, the Breath of God daily renewing the face of the earth.

We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are deeply concerned about the environment, locally and globally, as members of this church and as members of society. Even as we join the political, economic, and scientific discussion, we know care for the earth to be a profoundly spiritual matter.”

Excerpt from the Prologue of the ELCA Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice social statement. Click here to access document.

WHY LUTHERANS CARE FOR CREATIONBuilding on our foundations in the ongoing reformation of the church

Learn about the theological, confessional and biblical basis of why Lutherans Care for Creation in this article prepared by the Rev. David Rhoads with contributions from Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, the Rev. Thomas Mundahl, the Rev. Dennis Ormseth, the Rev. Sandra Roberts and the Rev. H. Paul Santmire.

NEW ENERGY STAR “TREASURE MAP” CREATED FOR CONGREGATIONS

LAMPa recently supported an Energy Star Stewardship Tour in Pennsylvania. Participants learned, like most U.S. commercial buildings, the typical worship facility wastes about 30 percent of the energy for which its congregants pay. Energy Star recently released a “Treasure Map” for congregations to use in exploring their facilities — a fun and productive tool, especially for “green teams” and youth! Additional Energy Star resources for congregations may be foundhere. Here is thePA ENERGY STAR Tour 2018 – Power Pointfor Congregations that was shared during the tour. It contains numerous informative slides.

WORLD’S LARGEST LESSON – FREE RESOURCES TO LEARN ABOUT THE UN GLOBAL GOALS FOR SUSTAINBABLE DEVELOPMENT

In 2015 The United Nations launched The Global Goals for Sustainable Development, a series of ambitious targets to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and fix climate change for everyone by 2030.If the Goals are met, they ensure the health, safety and future of the planet for everyone on it.

And their best chance of being met is if everyone on the planet is aware of them. The World’s Largest Lesson brings the Global Goals to children all over the world, reaching over 130 countries and millions of children since its launch in September 2015. The World’s Largest Lesson produces free and creative resources for educators to teach lessons, run projects and stimulate action in support of the Goals.Learnmore.

THIS MOMENT IN TIME: 2018 IPCC REPORT AND CARING FOR CREATION: A resource reflecting on content of a 2018 report released by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, faith-based reflections from the ELCA, and ways to respond

This is likely one of the most challenging times that we have ever faced as a global community. Our lives and future generations depend on actions we take or do not take in response to our changing climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is the United Nations (U.N.) body for assessing the science related to climate change response, issued its 2018 report titled “Global Warming of 1.5°C.”1 The report expressed the urgency of taking rapid action over the next decade to limit global warming to 1.5°C to avoid the risks associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes. Learn more.